Airport update, when and how much?
I know that Apple is working on a new faster version of Airport based on the g standard. However, I thought that some people were predicting the update for MWNY 2002, which obviously didn't happen. What are your ideas on timeframe and feature set on these new stations in comparison to the current offering?
Peter
Peter
Comments
<a href="http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,437741,00.asp" target="_blank">Extremetech - 802.11b+ protocol bridges 802.11a, 802.11b</a>
I'm wondering if it'd be possible ot use an AirPort card to transmit Bluetooth as well. Since BT also uses 2.4GHz frequency and is just another wireless ethernet standard (802.15) I don't see many problems to make this possible. Maybe not multiplexed with AirPort transmission simultanously but alternating. BT is limited to 1Mbit/s so bandwidth shouldn't be an issue as well. Am I missing something important that would prevent this?
So the main question for me is: Will it be possible to fit 802.11g cards into older Macs? ill it be possible to flash upgrade current AirPort Cards and (maybe white only) BaseStations? I sit possible to use an AirPort card for BT?
Just an (semi un)educated guess...
:cool:
I went to order an ibook on apples site. Usually they offer all the extras like printer, camera, software, zip-drive, etc... but they did not offer an airport base station as an additional purchase option. I would think that this is normally something that would show up in order to push their base stations. ibook users would be very happy to buy a base station...especially if they ordered an airport card with the ibook!
You can still order one if you go through the apple store looking specifily for an airport base station.
Could this mean that they are getting ready to release a new airport?
[ 08-10-2002: Message edited by: EchoDriver ]</p>
<strong>I know that Apple is working on a new faster version of Airport based on the g standard. However, I thought that some people were predicting the update for MWNY 2002, which obviously didn't happen. What are your ideas on timeframe and feature set on these new stations in comparison to the current offering?
Peter</strong><hr></blockquote>
i'd really say it will not be this year that we see a new airport. I'm thinking it will be more like this time next year, when 802.11g is better sorted out..
Also is it possible or just a silly idea (I am no pro with H/w) to have a USB port on an airport so a printer could be plugged into thqat and handled by the airport rather than beign looked after by the main computer it is plugged into????
Cheers
802.11g is 2.4 GHz
Even though bluetooth offers frequency-hopping, it still can sometimes interfere with other things in the 2.4ghz band.
Either way, I'd rather get 802.11g than 802.11a. Mainly because computers/people with existing 802.11b setups can accomodate 802.11g.
What I'm wondering is :::
will the airport sockets on current apple pc's support 802.11g cards? [and transmit to a 802.11g base station]
I think this speculation makes a lot of sense too- you do not need a bluetooth base you just need that hardware piece in the computer. Apple has established airport in their machines so that underlying foundation is there.
Is it at all feasible they are adding bluetooth functionality to the card so now that single card can deliver both solutions??
<strong>What I'm wondering is :::
will the airport sockets on current apple pc's support 802.11g cards? [and transmit to a 802.11g base station]</strong><hr></blockquote>
They Should. The cards use a standard PCMCIA interface capable of much higher speeds.
could you please post a link where to get info on that Bluetooth/AirPort combo? I'd be very interested in that. I do fancy an experiment!
Amazon is offering free Airport cards with eMac, iMac, and iBook through August 25.
To my knowledge, they're the only Apple reseller with this promo. Everyone else just has the printers and free/cheap memory.
I think something may be up. Airport cards included with all three lines in the near future, to fit with an Airport/Bluetooth blitz?
Just wondering. And holding off on buying anything for a few weeks. :cool: